Automobile driver&#39;s hand-signaling flag



Dec. 19, 1950 I J. STARKEY 2,534,313

AUTOMOBILE DRIVER'S HANDSIGNALING FLAG Filed May 25, 1949 Fig. l.

wil W mulllllm -In uentor Jerpme Starkey Patented Dec. 19, 1950 AUTOMOBILE DRIVFELIXE HAND-SIGNALIN G Jerome Starkey, Campbell, Calif.

Application May 23, 1949, Serial No. 94,758

2 Claims. (01. 116-114) This invention relates to a new and novel automobile hand-type signalling flag which, because of its practical construction and nature, is destined, it is submitted, to come into extensive use inasmuch as it will doubtlessly contribute to the act of effectively and more assuredly giving direction and similar signals, using the hand and forearm in accordance with present-day practice.

I am aware that it is not new in this line of endeavor to employ conspicuously made hand coverings and gloves, and that, as a matter of fact, a glove with a signalling fiag has also been offered to aid automobile drivers in carrying out the intentions of hand signalling. In an effort to further contribute to the ever needed requirements which will promote safe driving results, I have perfected what I believe to be a unique signalling flag and a more satisfactory means whereby said flag may be used in a mutually advantageous manner.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a flag which is of a length corresponding to the length of the forearm of the user, is of red cloth or equivalent material, and is more likely to achieve the wanted ends due to the fact that it is of fringed construction.

Not only does my signalling flag well serve its intended purposes, but its use is effectively enhanced in that it is attached to and forms a part of a sleeve, said sleeve being conspicuous in that it, too, is of conspicuous danger-signalling red.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is an elevational view of an automobile driver's hand-signalling flag and complemental sleeve constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the manner in which same is used.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one end portion of the sleeve.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing by distinguishing reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the complete accessory comprises an adapter and attaching sleeve 5 and an integral complemental signalling flag 6. The body portion 1 of the sleeve is of red colored cloth of appropriate texture and is full-fashioned so that it may be circumferentially distended to fit arms of different sizes. The sleeve is also of a length that it may be lengthened or shortened to serve the needs of average drivers, both men and women. The opposite end portions of the sleeve are contracted by elastic cords 8 and 9 respectively, and also the ends are inturned in hem-like fashion as shown at the right in Figure 2 and denoted at [0. Incidentally, the elastic cord may be used for stitching the hem-end in place. Both ends of the sleeve are thus retractable and expandible to accommodate arms and hands of different sizes and also to insure' snug fitting of the sleeve when in use. These restricted ends are identified conveniently as inner and outer collars l I and I1 respectively. For convenience of better identification, I deem it advisable to point out that the collar II, when properly gathered as at l3, forms a snug-fitting elastic wrist-band. The other collar II, when gathered at H, defines an arm-band and is, of course, adapted to encircle the forearm adjacent the elbow in the manner shown in Figure 1. The longitudinal edge portions of the sleeve are turned in as indicated at i5 and IS in Fig. 3 and the edge portion ll of the fiag 6 is fitted and stitched between said edge portions l5 and I6 as denoted at l8 in Fig. 2. The outer free longitudinal edge portion of the flag is formed with a plurality of slits, thus making said outer edge portion of fringed construction with the ribbons or fringes IQ of highly flexible free-dangling form. It follows that when the wearer projects the forearm out of the left window, in the usual way, and gives a hand signal, he will simultaneously display the emblazoned color characteristics of both sleeve and flag, thus to provide the factors of eye appeal and attraction, in an obvious manner. Not only is the fiag suspended from the sleeve so that it hangs down for attention, but, being out into ribbons, said ribbons or fringes, obviously, flutter and wave about in the breeze, so to speak, to further and additively enhance the overall signal-aiding characteristics and properties of the novel sleeve-flag.

As stated, the sleeve is of suilicient fullness and length that it will accommodate the average" driver. Further, the expandible and retractable elastic collars make for ready application and removal and make it possible to fit the sleeve over the wearer's clothing minus either difficulty or annoyance.

It will be clear that the article herein depicted and described is unique in that it is conspicuous to both wearers and observers. What is more important, a wearer will be constantly reminded that he is wearing the sleeve" for a definite signalling purpose and this will overcome forgetiulness. It is thought that daily application of the sleeve to the wearer's arm will soon develop a fixed habit and will tend to offset natural laziness of-some drivers in regard to giving hand signals and'will minimize indifference and carelessness of the rights of other drivers and pedestrians. Thus, when new drivers start out and make it a habit to utilize the sleeve, over a period of years, all hands will benefit from the use of my invention, I believe.

It is also conscientiously believed that if a fia equipped sleeve of the type herein shown and described were universally adopted, its use would unquestionably result in an appreciable decrease in automobile accidents.

Inview of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

'It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown andidescribed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the .same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

'1; An automobile driver's hand-signalling aid comprising a sleeve adapted to be worn on the forearm between the hand and elbow, said sleeve being'made of red colored inexpensive but dulong to be clearly visible to persons within danger distance of the wearer of the sleeve.

2. An automobile drivers hand-signalling aid comprising an over-sleeve having radially expandible and contractable elastic collars at opposite ends, having its longitudinal edge portions inturned, and a flag having one edge portion stitched between said inturned longitudinal edge portions, said flag being fringed.

JEROME STARKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,296,460 Riley Mar. 4, 1919 1,577,630 Yerger Mar. 23, 1926 1,670,176 Woolery May 15, 1928 2,223,029 Dunton Nov. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 742,241 France Aug. 22, 1932 

